Longtime Diablo rival to end multiplayer development and support

In February 2020, when Diablo 4 was still just a gleam in Lilith’s eye, Path of Exile 2 was just beginning to surface as an idea, and Last Epoch was just a newborn looking to finding your feet in the initial throes of early access, Wolcen seemed like the new kid on the block. An ARPG with no class restrictions and a beautiful world to explore, it showed great promise at first. But bugs, technical glitches, and balance issues left the newcomer in a predicament from which he never recovered, and now it appears the wake-up call has finally arrived.

In a blog post shared via the Wolcen Steam page, developer Wolcen Studio announces: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce an important change: starting September 3, 2024, Wolcen will no longer support multiplayer functionality. Additionally, we will cease development and support for the game.” It’s a sad ending for the once-promising RPG, which felt for a brief moment like it might be a serious contender for Diablo’s throne at a later date. level similar to that observed with the launch of Last Epoch 1.0 in 2024.

“Thank you for your continued support and dedication,” the team wrote. “We are fully aware of the challenges that emerged from the initial technical decisions made regarding the game’s architecture, challenges that are insurmountable without a complete technological overhaul.

“We’ve carefully updated Wolcen, improving every facet of the game, from introducing new chapters and items to improving the UI, animations, and meticulous balancing of skills, items, and gameplay , as well as technical improvements,” he continues. “Despite these efforts and the dedication of the team behind our fixes, we encountered fundamental obstacles that prevent further improvements within the existing framework. »

As a result, you will no longer be able to play Wolcen in multiplayer, which will undoubtedly disappoint many. Indeed, the game’s recent score on Steam is an “extremely negative” 18% over the past 30 days, with the all-time score being a “mixed” 56%. Wolcen Studio notes: “We want to assure you that Wolcen will still be available to play in single player and for purchase at a new, permanently reduced price.”

I still remember the spark of excitement I had upon seeing Wolcen for the first time – had he landed well, it could have been the perfect time and place to make a lasting impact on Diablo. It looked fantastic, had some really strong ideas, and the free-form character building seemed like a smart step forward for the genre. Sadly, it just wasn’t meant to be, and now it seems the dream of one day finding his feet has finally gone the way of sleeping.

“This decision allows us to focus on new projects, highlighting lessons learned from Wolcen,” the team writes. “We are committed to excellence and are driven to create new experiences and adventures that we hope you will look forward to participating in. Your feedback has always been invaluable and will continue to guide the development of our future projects. Thank you for your continued support. We are excited about the future and look forward to embarking on these new journeys with you, setting new standards for what we can achieve together.

Looking for another ARPG to fill the hole in your heart? Here are the best games like Diablo to play in 2024. We’ve also selected the best fantasy games for your perusal, if you prefer.

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